Priyanka Gandhi takes oath as Member of Parliament

New Delhi: Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was sworn in as the Lok Sabha member from Kerala's Wayanad Thursday morning - in a kasavu, a traditional Kerala saree and with a copy of the red-bound Constitution in her hand. The latter has become a familiar sight after Rahul Gandhi began carrying it prominently to underscore allegations the ruling BJP is trying to alter or subvert its principles.

Ms Gandhi Vadra replaces her brother, Mr Gandhi, as the Wayanad MP; he surrendered the seat after also winning the family stronghold of Raebareli in Uttar Pradesh. She is now the third member of the Gandhi family in Parliament; her mother, Sonia Gandhi is the party's Rajya Sabha MP from Rajasthan.

"I am very happy today," she said and was greeted with loud cheers and chants of 'Bharat Jodo' as she took her oath. And, shortly after she and



party colleague Ravindra Chavan from Maharashtra's Nanded, did so, the House was adjourned due to protests over issues like the violence in UP's Sambhal.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra recorded a massive win from Wayanad when votes were counted on Saturday; she polled over 6.22 lakh votes, more than four lakh ahead of second-placed Sathyan Mokeri of the Communist Party of India and 5.12 lakh more than the BJP's Navya Haridas.

Ms Gandhi thanked the voters in a long post on X, saying that she was overwhelmed by the trust people have posed in her. "I will make sure that over time, you truly feel this victory has been your victory and the person you chose to represent you understands your hopes and dreams and fights for you as one of your own. I look forward to being your voice in Parliament," she said.